Former Celtic assistant manager and defender Johan Mjällby has expressed his thoughts on the 3-2 defeat to Rangers at Celtic Park on Sunday, calling it a crucial “wake-up call” for the Hoops.
The defeat to Rangers has raised concerns, but Mjällby believes it also offers Brendan Rodgers an opportunity to assess and adjust his approach moving forward.
Mjällby’s Reaction to the Defeat
Speaking on Premier Sports’ Scottish Football Social Club, Mjällby didn’t hold back in his assessment of the loss. He admitted that, had he been in Rodgers’ shoes, he would be “fuming” after such a defeat, but he also acknowledged the importance of learning from the experience.
“I would be fuming, I’m telling you that,” said Mjällby. “Yes, I know it’s all about winning trophies, so in that sense, Celtic have the bragging rights. But for Brendan Rodgers, I think he must learn because he’s a perfectionist.”
Rodgers’ Perfectionism Under the Spotlight
Mjällby pointed out that Rodgers’ perfectionist nature is a key element of his managerial style, and the defeat against Rangers presents a huge opportunity for reflection. The Celtic boss has been striving to build a team that is dominant on the ball, with a clear emphasis on playing out from the back. However, the loss to Rangers, combined with the previous defeat in January at Ibrox, has shown that there is still work to be done.
“He’s looking for the perfect team and the perfect game to play. For him now to build his team to be really good on the ball, to always build out from the back – now they’ve failed twice against their biggest challengers,” Mjällby said.
Looking Ahead to the Next Glasgow Derby
Mjällby also speculated that Rodgers will be looking to make changes for the next Glasgow Derby. He believes the Celtic manager will have something “in his back pocket” to shake things up, with potential tactical adjustments on the horizon.
“It’s going to be interesting to see in the next Glasgow Derby. I’m quite sure Brendan is going to have something in his back pocket. He’s going to change something, and it might not just be the personnel,” Mjällby added.
A Crucial Moment for Celtic
While the loss to Rangers was disappointing for Celtic supporters, it could prove to be a turning point for Rodgers and the team. With the next Glasgow Derby match on the horizon at Ibrox after the split, Celtic fans will be hoping that Rodgers can take the lessons learned from the defeat and come back stronger.
The pressure is now on for Celtic to bounce back, and many will be watching closely to see how Rodgers responds to this setback in the coming weeks.
